Geophysics and the Oracle of Delphi

[Hervé]

Ancient Greeks may have built sacred sites on earthquake fault lines, viewing the tremors as mystical occurrences

John Dyer Seeker
Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:37 UTC

Temple of Apollo ruins in Delphi, Greece © UIG via Getty Images

Archeologists and other scientists have long known that intoxicating gases emanating from water flowing from deep within the earth likely produced the visions of the oracle of Delphi, a seer who guided ancient Greeks with her prophecies from around 800 BC through the 4th century AD from her temple on Mount Parnassus.

Now, new research suggests many other Greek sacred sites were built on similar fissures created by earthquakes throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.

"The ancient Greeks placed great value on hot springs unlocked by earthquakes," said Iain Stewart, professor of geoscience communication and director of the Sustainable Earth Institute at the University of Plymouth in Britain. "But perhaps the building of temples and cities close to these sites was more systematic than has previously been thought."

In a study published recently in the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, Stewart showed how temples and other structures at Mycenae, Ephesus, Cnidus, and Hierapolis were, like Delphi, built and rebuilt over earthquake faults.

In Cnidus, an ancient, ruined city in what is now southwestern coastal Turkey, for example, locals erected a temple in the same place - over a fault in hindsight - even after earthquakes wrecked it.

"You think, 'That's bad luck, isn't it?'" said Stewart, describing when he first reached his findings after reviewing his data. "Then it dawns on you. These people weren't stupid. There was this grand dawning that there was probably something deliberate here."

The pattern repeats in other cities, reflecting how Greeks viewed the underworld as the destination for the soul after death and a source of mystical power and knowledge. "We don't have a culture that looks down," said Stewart. "We have a culture that looks up to the stars."

Conversely, in his paper Stewart speculates that seismic activity could have cut off hot springs that had justified an oracle at Perachora Heraion, a sanctuary founded in honor of the goddess Hera in the 9th century BC near Corinth but then fell into disuse in 300 BC potentially after earthquakes.

Greeks also of course didn't live in cities with skyscrapers and millions of residents, either, he added. Earthquakes would have been viewed more as mystical occurrences and not natural disasters caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Historical and geological records show that earthquakes were frequent at the height of ancient Greek civilization, he added.

"It's hard [for people today] to separate the modern take that earthquakes are dangerous," said Stewart. "We kind of know too much. We know what they can do. In ancient times, they would have seen them very differently. In the course of 30 seconds, the ground would open up and then everything would go back to normal."

Stewart added that archeologists might also look at sacred sites in South America, the Middle East, and Asia to see whether earthquake fault lines played a role in their construction.

But Stewart admitted he wasn't an archeologist. More work needed to be done to fully explore his thesis, he said, adding that he published his paper as a "provocation" for other more qualified researchers to take up the topic.

"I do recognize that when geologists lumber into archeological territory, they make mistakes," he said. "I'm quite happy with archeologists taking us to task."

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I guess that our "modern" nuclear power plants are the rightful heirs to ancient Greek temples...

[uzn]

Greece Delphi Apollo Tempel.
Look at the Basis Does this remind you of any other culture ? By the way building this way is much more earthquake proof than brick style.






Excacations at the Apollo Temple site also revealed our ancient friends the Nobs.

[Foxie Loxie]

Too funny, Herve, about the nuclear plants!

[enigma3]

The Nobs. I've always called them nobbies. They are all over the world. Ollyantaytambo and many other places in South America have them. There are even some on the lower courses of the Khafre pyramid. I know of no one who has ventured a guess as to their age. I would ask if they predate construction technique used at the Oserion or Sphinx temple? That flat, tight fitting masonry.

[we-R-one]

The sacred sites were built on Delphi due to the vapors created by volcanic activity down below. It's my understanding all Earth energies (ley lines) come together at the Temple at Delphi. The most powerful ley lines are sourced from volcanic plugs or extinct volcanoes, hence why the Delphi location is most significant. More answers lie within the ancient science of geomancy.

Source: Ley Lines of the U.K. and U.S.A., David Cowan with Anne Silk

[uzn]

The sacred way to Delphy Look at the wall to the right (asymetric construction)


That´s beneath the Apollo Temple


Foreground: strange stone, Background: mayan style wall


When the Oracle sat in her seat, she would inhale fumes that would send her into a trance so that she could act as a medium for Apollo and deliver prophecies. Geologists have found that it might have been possible that these gases were hallucinogenic and released from fault lines between tectonic plates. The researchers found traces of ethylene at Delphi: ethylene has a sweet smell and produces a narcotic effect described as a “floating” or euphoria!


In the above sideview one sees a typical greek Oracle Temple, notice the big tub, this is filled with hallucinogenic gases. The Oracle resided in this tub. The visitor had to go down in there to, but not for to long.

Above the Temple of the Oracle was engraved: Know Thyself (in greek)

[happyuk]

The know-how used in structures with interlocking stones of irregular sizes is very interesting. I have come across this concept in (I think) one of Graham Hancock's presentation the random block sizes enabling buildings to become far more resistant to earthquakes than regular symmetrical ones.

[OmeyocaN777]

I will tell you a secret....
Before making temples (patriarchal system), we had a matriarchal religion all over the world and her temples was caves.
So the original temple of Delphi and the more ancient is Corycian Cave and is above Delphi.
Even there was an ancient path between Delphi and Corycian cave
In some days of the year there is a portal there........
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corycian_Cave

[uzn]

Found at the excavation of Delphi.

[Foxie Loxie]

uzn....Was there only the one picture? Most interesting!

[uzn]

Two gigantic Statures. Not to greek looking, but excavated at Delphi.







Center of the World (naval):
Super short Version:
Zeus relaesed two eagles
flew around the world
met at Delphi
Where they met is the naval of the world (ps: there is one on the easterisland too)

Omphalos (naval)


The spot where the original naval was:



The Daddy of Zeus wanted to eat Zeus but instead Zeus tricked him into eating the Omphalos. Then Zeus killed his dad.